Make-A-Difference Day

In the fall, the CCE celebrates Make A Difference Day by working with students from Westerville and Columbus City schools to encourage learning, safety, and responsibility. It also hosts a "Stop-N-Serve" booth for Homecoming, which often coincides with Make A Difference Day.

On Make A Difference Day in 2007 and 2008, the CCE worked with students from Westerville and Columbus City Schools to encourage learning, safety and responsibility at a Fall Safety Expo.

About 286 first, second and third grade students from Emerson, Mark Twain, and Hawthorne Elementary Schools learned about fire safety, the potential danger of strangers, disaster planning and knife safety. Activities included a remote control miniature patrol car from the Westerville Police Department and a pumpkin-carving booth complete with knife-safety instruction. Students also participated in a blanket service project by helping make tied fleece baby blankets that will be given to a children’s burn unit.

Also at the Fall Safety Expo, children enjoyed seeing a MedFlight helicopter land on the football field, a fire truck from the Westerville Fire Department, a demonstration by a K-9 Response Team and an appearance by McGruff, the mascot of the National Crime Prevention Council.

Additional attractions for high school and college students included alcohol goggles, a crashed car that illustrates the dangers of drunk driving and information from the Ohio Investigative Unit about danger awareness.